At the ninth session of the Assembly of the Capital, a new member of the Parliamentary Finance Committee, Marjan Stojanović, was elected, who will replace the independent councilor Ivan Ivanović in that position. The Decision on temporary financing of the needs of the Capital City Budget for the period from January 1 to March 31, 2019 was also adopted, and both decisions were adopted without the votes of the opposition parties, Cetinjski list reports.
Representatives of the opposition parties: Citizens' Movement URA, Democrats and the Social Democratic Party left the session in protest after the heated discussion that preceded the vote.
The opposition states that the reasons for leaving the session are numerous, among other things, non-compliance with the rules of procedure of the Assembly and the way in which the ninth session was scheduled, while the eighth session was not even completed, writes Cetinjski list.
The president of OO URA, Filip Adžić, said that they are trying to enforce the law retroactively and that the rules of procedure have not been followed. He stated that it is impossible to start the session without the approved minutes from the previous session and that is foreseen, said Adžić, a member of the rules of procedure.
"Article 44 point two. Does it mean the adoption of the minutes from the previous session? Did we adopt it or not? How are we going to start the session? Does it say in that same article that the session must be scheduled at least ten days before the session begins? When did you scheduled? Have you informed us about the reasons for the urgency? Is there some kind of natural disaster or something, in order for the session to be held today? If there is, it is possible to discuss only that item on the agenda, not the election and appointment. And what is most scandalous, you are trying to apply the law retroactively. You are trying to include the people you will appoint today in the work of the previous session. Do you know what you are doing, madam? Are you aware of what you are engaging in? What kind of legal violence are you engaging in?" Adzic said.
According to the opinion of the president of the OO SDP, Nikola Đurašković, it is also disputed that it was not precisely specified anywhere that it was so urgent that the ninth session was scheduled in this way.
"What was the reason for the urgency, because the selection and appointment point cannot be the reason for the urgency? And that one fraud was not enough for you, but you called the first point Selection of appointment and dismissal, as much as you wanted to hide everything and let us find out what it was about today is being done, you were not even able to put the dismissal of the member of the finance committee, as it was always on the agenda at all sessions. he cannot be a member of the working body, which you did in the month of June or May or July, don't take me to be precise, when Mr. Ivanović informed this House that he was no longer a member of the Social Democrats councilor club and that he was in the status of an independent councilor. Who is Mr. Gazivoda in represented in the committees from June until today, and who will he represent today in the committees when the vote is taken on the dismissal of Mr. Ivanović," Đurašković said.
The president of the OO Democrats, Danilo Mrvaljević, also reminded that this is not the first time they have faced irregularities in the work of the assembly, that in his opinion there was no urgency for scheduling today's session and that there were no grounds for the dismissal of Ivanovic.
"What is the basis for your dismissal, what is the explanation? The fact that Ivanovic submitted a letter that he no longer has a club, is that right? I understood that this was your reason. And as Mr. Đurašković said, what will we do with Mr. Gazivoda, who is half year without a club in the board. Personally, formally and legally, it is much less controversial for me that you started this session and did not finish the last one, because it happened many times in Montenegro. When there are justified reasons for urgency, there is an extraordinary session, everything is OK, not here exists. What about the period when Gazivoda was in the committees, he voted, he did the radio, who did he represent there? Do you know what is done in situations like this in democratic desires in orderly and normal states? First, the mayor resigns, that's the first thing, another thing, you wouldn't wait for me or anyone from the opposition to propose it. If there were moral people, you would ask for a shortening of the mandate in the Parliament and go for new elections, but of course I don't expect that from you," said Mrvaljević.
The secretary of the Assembly, Mirjana Lipovina, despite constant protests and comments from the opposition, said that everything was done according to the law.
"According to Article 45 of the rules of procedure of the Assembly of the Capital, a session can be convened under an urgent procedure, for less than ten days, and the Law on Local Self-Government does not stipulate in any article that a session cannot be scheduled if the previous session has not been completed. We also have practice in local administrations throughout Montenegro that things like this were happening... The reasons for the urgency are explained in the mayor's decision itself. Of course, the reasons for the urgency are very important, because the decision on temporary financing, which was just made due to the failure to adopt the budget, had to be confirmed at the first following session. of course, to adopt the minutes because the session is not over. And it has happened several times at the committees that we adopt the minutes from the previous session at the next one, so this does not pose any problem.", explained Lipovna.
The president of the club of DPS councilors, Borislav Pravilović, believes that absolutely everything was done legally, legitimately and in accordance with the rules of procedure. All those who believe that this is not so, he added, can check everything through the institutions. He then referred to today's session.
"This is the pure relationship of all of them, whose goal is to win power in the capital at any cost, and I hope that the citizens of the capital will see through the means of public information, all that happened today at the session of the Municipal Assembly, and that they will take a position that regarding this. I thank you, gentlemen, for a really correct and fair attitude towards the whole discussion, because this was below any level. The DPS committee club and each one individually, is ready to stand here both morally and materially and personally and politically, to everyone from the opposition councilors on the line and I invite them to present everything they have and everything they have contributed to this city," said Pravilović.
Councilor Miloš Ražnatović said that not a single article of the Constitution or law was violated during the convening of today's Assembly.
"All this discussion that we have had the opportunity to hear so far more than clearly shows that the opposition no longer has its trump cards in its hands to obstruct and block the work of the parliament and that we are trying to get out of this blockade of the parliament. I think that the secretary more than clearly explained the reasons for scheduling and all other "controversial" issues when it comes to this session. I would like to invite the gentlemen who are looking for answers to the questions to first list for us which article of the Law or the Constitution of Montenegro has been violated by this parliament, so that this session cannot be scheduled today. We claim not one," Ražnatović said.
URA member Slavko Janković demonstratively tore up the papers with the agenda of today's Assembly, thus showing his dissatisfaction.
The councilors of the LSCG Old Guard did not even attend today's session of the local parliament.
The eighth session of the local parliament is scheduled for the eighth of February this year.
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